The following year, the agitation began to take hold, and when the cooperation of Judge William S. Deming was solicited,[3] the success of the project became practically assured.

The Judge showed his interest by volunteering to give US$3,000 toward the proposed school whenever the citizens would raise an equivalent amount, and, in addition, he agreed to donate the campus, and make other generous gifts.

The last named was consumed by fire a few years later, whereupon the alumni of the institute erected Tuckerman Memorial Hall, a modern and well equipped building, affording comfort and pleasure to young ladies attending the school.

[4] When James Christy died and left his small fortune to be devoted to educational uses in the county, there immediately arose petitions from both New Lyme and Grand River institutes for the dowry to be turned over to them to be dispensed.

[4] Some years later, a strong endeavor was made by the trustees of NLI to procure the State Normal School, but politics and greater inducements prevailed in favor of Kent, Ohio.

[4] By the will of Judge Deming, the trustees of NLI came into possession of the land and six dwelling houses in "Newtown," and also a US$25,000 endowment fund, which promised perpetuity to the institution, and it was hoped it could be maintained and continue to rank as one of the best preparatory schools of the county.

The Academic course embraced three years' study of Latin, two years of Greek or German, a thorough knowledge of algebra, geometry, trigonometry and surveying, history of the United States and general history, civil government, physics, chemistry, botany, astronomy, logic, rhetoric, psychology and Butler's Analogy.